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Sprawling across the western coast of South America for 4,300 miles, the Andes make an adventurer out of every visitor. Hikers can spend weeks winding along mountain trails, while cultural tourists head to the villages and Inca ruins. Thanks to wild llamas, vast jungles and aerial views of the Sacred Valley of the Incas below, the Andes range is a place where surprises and photo opportunities abound.

Hiking Trails

The Andes are an earthly paradise to hikers. Launching from Peru near Cusco, a four-day hike along the Inca Trail covers a cloud forest and a half-dozen Inca ruins, culminating with the stunning Machu Picchu, known as the "Lost City of the Incas." For less crowded paths, tourists can veer away from the Inca ruins and instead hike volcanoes in quieter Ecuador or explore alpine lakes, such as the sprawling Lake Titicaca, perched on the border between Peru and Bolivia.

Lost Inca Cities

The Incas once called the Andes home, building their stone cities atop peaks nestled in the clouds – and visitors still explore many of these ruins today. Machu Picchu is among the most complete, with llamas occasionally ambling along the stone walls and terraces. Chinchero is an Andean village built around Inca ruins; this site was known as the rainbow's birthplace to the Inca people. Other sites worth visiting include the Inca Temple of the Sun called Qoricancha-Templo del Sol, the dramatic stonework of Sacsayhuaman and the never-finished temple of Ollantaytambo, intended as a place for the Inca people to study the skies.

Urban Tourism

Cities around the Andes are the launching points for mountain exploration, thanks to their comfortable hotels and restaurants that cater to hungry tourists. After a day climbing a mountain, travelers can dance in the clubs of Quito's La Mariscal neighborhood or unwind over dinner in an historic city center. For those who want to stay close to the mountains, the Bolivian city of La Paz snakes its way up the Andean hills. The Ecuadorian capital of Quito is perched on the slopes of one of the Andes mountains, and Cusco sits near the Sacred Valley of Peru. Quito and Cusco have been named UNESCO World Heritage Sites because ancient Inca settlements once rested there.

Village Markets

In the villages of the Andes, Sunday is market day – and that means buses packed with farmers carrying roosters, merchants with pots and pans rolling into the bus aisles and bustling streets filled with wares worthy of a tourist's pocket change. Goods include everything from handmade jewelry to colorful alpaca ponchos, with plenty of foodstuffs to satiate the appetite while browsing. Among the most sprawling markets is that of Gualaceo, a village that's a half-hour drive from Cuenca, Ecuador. Nearby Chordeleg is a more peaceful alternative. And for those who really want to feel the energy of a large-scale market, Pisac's market in Peru attracts thousands of tourists every Sunday with its colorful displays.

What to Expect

Whether hiking, driving or remaining strictly urban-based, tourists should bring plenty of money to get them through their trips. South America is an expensive place, though dining in villages and taking public transport can be surprisingly easy on the budget. In the mountains, mosquitos and other insects make bug repellant almost a necessity. Newcomers to hiking may prefer to explore the Andes with a tour group – perhaps with an English-speaking tour guide – but solo adventurers will find plenty of places to camp, with villages that have running water for travelers willing to pay a small fee. The Inca Trail is only available to officially sanctioned tour groups. And if backpacks become too cumbersome, Peruvian children line the Inca Trail offering to carry packs for a fee.